Bonnaroo Day 3 was another hot one, with guests searching for shade and water wherever they could until the sun went down. Saturday had 38 different artists on the six Centeroo stages. The famed Red Hot Chili Peppers headlined the main What Stage that evening. Here is a recap of some of the talented artists we got to see.
California native Ryan Beatty opened the Which Stage at 2:00 p.m. Beatty took a laid back approach to his midday performance, sitting on a chair and serenading the crowd. Many of his fans were excited to see him perform after his musical hiatus until 2017, when he slowly re-emerged into the musical scene.
Country artist Tanner Usrey brought his country energy to That Tent. Since 2022, Usrey has been touring around the country and releasing new music. Hearing some country was a nice break from the usual pop and rock shows. Performing at a festival like Bonnaroo is truly a huge accomplishment for this up and coming artist.
At the Which Stage alternative artist d4vd performed to an excited crowd for his Bonnaroo debut. The artists’ song “Here With Me” went viral on social media recently, drawing more attention to such a great musician. D4vd brought all the moves as he even did backflips onstage during the first part of his performance. You could tell by the energy in the crowd that d4vd is gaining more fans with each performance he does.
Bakar, an English experimental indie rock artist took to the stage at This Tent at 4:30 p.m. He is most well known for his single “Hell n Back” that was released in 2019. Many of the songs Bakar sang were from his 2023 album, Halo, but he also included some songs from his two earlier albums: Nobody’s Home and Badkid.
Ethel Cain put on her set in That Tent in a straw cowboy hat, a red tank top, blue jeans, and cowboy boots. She sang many songs from her most recent 2022 album, Preacher’s Daughter like “American Teenager” and “A House In Nebraska,” transporting the crowd into the Southern Gothic town from the concept album. Behind Cain, moving images of fields and streams helped aid the moment.
On the Which Stage, Brittany Howard sang out her bluesy and funky tunes. Her tremendous vocals and spot-on guitar skills drew in the crowd and got everyone dancing. The heat didn’t seem to bother her as she belted out her songs in a rainbow striped moo moo. With songs like “Stay High,” “Georgia,” and “Patience,” Howard had the crowd clinging on to each of her words.
Jon Batiste has amazed us once again, bringing everyone into the dancing New Orleans spirit that he knows so well. Despite the blistering heat, Batiste moved from the acoustic guitar to electric, keyboards, drums, melodica, saxophone and at last, the piano with great ease and mastery. Batiste was joined by singer Desiree Washington “Desz.” The pair took turns singing and dancing together.
On the Which Stage singer Reneé Rapp, who gained fame from her Broadway role as Regina George, delivered a crazy energetic performance to a massive crowd as the sun began to set. Rapp wore a black mesh top, black sunglasses, and baggy Diesel shorts. Between singing some hits like “Not My Fault” and “Pretty Girls,” Rapp chatted with the audience and frequently pointed the microphone at them to help her sing.
Kentucky raised rock band Cage the Elephant came onto the What Stage with blazing pyrotechnics and a wild crowd awaiting their performance. Front man Matt Shultz was all over the stage, jumping from different platforms and speakers. The band sang their new song “Neon Pill” and of course, one of their most famous songs “Cigarette Daydreams” which fans in the crowd screamed the lyrics to. The band looked better than ever and we are so happy to have them back on the festival circuit. They never ever disappoint onstage.
After being riled up by Cage the Elephant, the Red Hot Chili Peppers wasted no time getting into the groove of their set. Lead singer Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea, guitarist John Frusciante and drummer Smith took the stage at 10:45 p.m. The show included many fan-favorites including hits “Californication,” “Under the Bridge,” “Snow” and “Give It Away.”
Flea, dressed in a purple skirt and purple and yellow socks, played his signature bass riffs and sent fans into head banging sessions. Kiedis, in a white mesh shirt and white jeans playfully invited the crowd to “a little after party at the Waffle House in Manchester” after their performance. The entire set was aided by the trippy graphics and special effects on the backdrop.
Right after the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, we headed to the Which Stage for Melanie Martinez. As part of her current Trilogy Tour which showcases her three different albums, Martinez went in order of each album, fully encapsulating her Cry Baby character. With props like a pink balloon and a pink ax, Martinez and her crew of back-up dancers effortlessly danced along to every song. Backdrop images matched up perfectly with her songs, like a bar of soap for “Soap” and a spider web riddled house for “Dollhouse.”
Day 3 was the best day yet with so many amazing performances. Stay tuned for our recap of the last day of Bonnaroo 2024, Sunday, June 16.
Words by Emily Cigan @emily.cigan and Amy Harris @thetraveladdictig